672 Chapter 671
It was Keira Olsen!
Jakeās pupils shrank in shock.
He couldnāt believe what he was seeing. For a brief moment, it felt like the light in his life had returned!
He swallowed hard, his eyes locked onto Keiraās, focusing on a faint spot near the corner of her eye.
There, under a subtle layer of concealer, was the unmistakable shadow of a small black beauty mark.
Jakeās eyes welled up instantly.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out. He could only stand there, staring blankly at Keira, lost in a daze.
Sheās aliveā¦
Sheās really alive!
Thank God!
Even if she was now his aunt, as long as she was still breathing, as long as she could find happiness, that was all that mattered.
Tears blurred Jakeās vision, and he quickly wiped them away. Keiraās face came back into focus, clear as day.
Was this really not a dream?
In a panic, Jake pinched his arm. It was real!
He looked at Keira with joy, wanting to call out her name, but then it hit himāafter everything heād put her through, what right did he have?
He stayed silent, but Keiraās eyes bore into him. āWhatās the matter? Do you really want to marry Eve Clark?ā
Oliver quickly stepped forward, trying to take control. āMiss Olsen, Iāve already made it clearāmy son listens to me! Youād better watch what you say, or donāt blame me if I get tough!ā
Nathan napped, āWhatās your angle? You donāt want Jake to marry Eve? Are you angling for Lewis to marry her instead? I see whatās going onāyouāre afraid that if Jake marries Eve, heāll outshine Lewis, huh?ā
Then he turned to look at old Mrs. Horton and Lewis. āLook at thisāsheās not even part of this family yet, and sheās already meddling in our affairs! Eveās a great girl. Why wouldnāt Jake want to marry her? Heās eager to get that ring on her finger!ā
But just as he finished his sentence, a low, choked voice suddenly cut through the air. āThatās right.ā
Everyone froze, turning to look at Jake.
His eyes were misty, his nose red, his whole body trembling with emotion. Like a child, he wiped away his tears and then looked straight at Keira.
Nathan let out a cold laugh. āYou heard him, right? Jake agrees with me!ā
Oliver chimed in, āOf course, my son listens to us. Eveās got a big name in Clance; every family wants her! Weāre lucky sheās willing to marry Jake and doesnāt care that heās been married before.ā
Oliver smiled, satisfied. āJake, once you marry Eve, make sure you treat her well and listen to what she says! Donāt be like your uncle, always clashing with the family!ā
Jake stood there in a daze.
Slowly, he spoke, enunciating each word. āI said, Keeraās right.ā
He pointed at Keira.
The smiles vanished from Nathan and Oliverās faces as they stared at Jake in disbelief.
Oliverās expression darkened with rage. āWhat did you just say? You ungrateful brat! Say that again!ā
In the past, Jake wouldāve cowered in fear at that look on his fatherās face. Every time his dad got that angry, heād run off to be with that other woman, leaving Jake and his mother behind.
But this time, Jake turned to Keira.
Her words echoed in his mindā¦
āWhat do you really want?ā
What did he want?
The Keira Olsen he wanted was gone, out of reach. But beyond her, what did he have left?
He wanted a father who stayed home, who treated his mother with respect, who didnāt have a mistress or a secret daughterā¦
But all of that seemed like a cruel joke.
It wasnāt coming back.
So, what did he want now?
Jake looked between Keira, Nathan, and Oliver.
Seeing the anger on the two menās faces, something suddenly clicked.
Jake met their eyes and spoke with determination. āI said, I donāt want to marry Eve Clark! Iām not some puppet on stringsāIām my own person!ā
The room went dead silent.
Oliver erupted in fury. āLooks like youāre itching for a beating! This is finalāthereās no way around it!ā
But Jake didnāt back down, his voice firm and resolute. āDad, I already told youāI donāt agree! Iām an adult now. You canāt control my life anymore!ā
Oliver was speechless.
He swung a hand to slap Jake, but his usually obedient son caught his wrist in mid-air.
At that moment, Oliver realized with shock that Jakeās grip was stronger than his own!
He stood there, stunned.
Nathan turned his fury on Keira, shouting, āWhat have you done to Jake? You troublemaker!ā
With that, he grabbed his cane and swung it at Keira.